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Ten games into the 2005 season, the Miami Dolphins were 3-7 and looked like a team with marginal talent. However, to their credit they somehow rallied and put together six victories in a row to finish the season with a respectable 9-7 record.
There is now rampant optimism in the Dolphins' camp and some believe they are poised to replace the New England Patriots atop the AFC East. Are the Dolphins that good or are we overrating them as we head into training camp?
It all starts with head coach Nick Saban, who has total control of this organization in both coaching and personnel and is not afraid to make tough calls. Much like his friend, Bill Belichick in New England, Saban makes decisions based on facts and not emotions. He knows exactly what he needs to build this team and nothing will make him waver from what he thinks is right.
How many coaches have enough job security and confidence to hire two ex-head coaches as coordinators? Mike Mularkey (Buffalo) will run the offense and Dom Capers (Carolina and Houston) will run the defense. In typical Saban fashion, however, both the offensive and defensive schemes are already in place. Instead of forcing the players to adjust to a new system, Mularkey and Capers will have to make adjustments.
Offensively, success revolves around the health of new quarterback Daunte Culpepper. He is coming off a devastating knee injury, but the medical reports out of South Florida are positive. He is participating in throwing drills and his mobility and movement are way ahead of schedule.
There is quiet optimism that Culpepper will be ready to play on opening day. If that's the case, which Culpepper will we see? Will it be the one who threw only six touchdown passes and 12 interceptions before his injury a year ago, or the player who threw 39 TDs in 2004? If we get the latter, the Dolphins will be off and running. The offense will be balanced, with a strong run game led by Ronnie Brown. However, they will take more vertical shots in the passing game to stretch the field and soften up defenses.

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Nick Saban has built a strong nucleus and created a winning culture in Miami.

The Dolphins were 18th in the NFL in 2005 in average gain per pass play and would like to improve on that, especially with Culpepper's gifted deep arm. Another tweak to the passing game might be more roll-outs and bootlegs to pressure the perimeter of opposing defenses. A year ago that was a non-factor as part of the playbook because of quarterback Gus Frerotte's limited mobility. Both Culpepper and backup Joey Harrington are agile and will add another element to the offense.
Culpepper has decent weapons to which to throw, but there is an alarming lack of depth at wide receiver. After Chris Chambers and Marty Booker, the Dolphins do not have a legitimate No. 3 or No. 4 threat. As a result, tight end Randy McMichael might have to assume a bigger role, although there is hope that rookie wideout Derek Hagan will develop quickly.
As good as the running game can be, Miami's coaching staff has to be concerned about depth. Brown gained 907 yards as a rookie, but he ran the ball only 207 times. Although he's added 10 pounds of muscle this offseason and seems motivated to be a workhorse, you cannot expect Brown to carry the ball 300 times. With Ricky Williams now playing in Canada as a result of his one-year suspension, the Dolphins must find someone in training camp capable of giving Brown a rest.
Miami's offensive line, a huge success story in 2005, returns intact. Offensive line coach Hudson Houck took a group of no-names and turned it into a very respectable unit. This group cut its sacks allowed total from 53 in 2004 to 26 in 2005 and helped the run game improve from 3.2 yards per carry in 2004 to 4.3 in 2005. The addition of blocking fullback Fred Beasley from San Francisco was more good news for Miami's skill-position players.
The biggest challenge for Miami's offensive coaching staff will be improving red-zone efficiency. In 2005, the Dolphins were 26th in red-zone touchdowns, converting only 21 of 52 opportunities. Mularkey is known as a creative play-caller who loves trick plays, which should make the Dolphins fun to watch in the red zone.
Defensively, the Dolphins were rock solid last season in the front seven, but the secondary was another story. Saban is a secondary coach by trade and employs a very complicated scheme with a combination of coverages, but his personnel wouldn't allow him to integrate those schemes. A year ago, the lack of speed in the secondary made it difficult to play tight man-to-man coverages and blitz because Miami's defensive backs could not be trusted on an island.
Miami was 20th in the NFL in 2005 in passing yards allowed per game despite the fact that it produced 49 sacks up front, which tied for second in the league. To Sabans' credit, he has given his secondary a complete makeover. Gone are defensive backs Sam Madison, Reggie Howard, Tebucky Jones and Lance Schulters. The new arrivals are Will Allen, Andre' Goodman, Renaldo Hill, Deke Cooper, and rookie first-round pick Jason Allen. This new group has more speed, versatility and playmaking possibilities and should be able to handle Saban's multiple schemes.
Up front, the Dolphins quietly are implementing a lot of 3-4 alignments. Even when they are in a 4-3 front, they tend to line up the big Keith Traylor at nose tackle. Speaking of Traylor, he is a big key to this defense. When he is right, he is an unmovable object and can neutralize the inside run. However, he is aging, gets nicked a lot, wears down and recently was arrested with a DUI charge. There is virtually no depth behind him and if Traylor struggles, this interior run defense could suffer.
There is good depth in the rest of this defensive line, along with the versatility to play difficult fronts. Jason Taylor is coming off a 12-sack season and can line up at right defensive end in the 4-3 or at right outside linebacker in the 3-4, although even when he is at linebacker he usually pass rushes with his hands in the dirt.
Left defensive end Kevin Carter can play on the edge in both fronts and can move easily inside to defensive tackle in pass-rush situations. This is a perfect example of a defensive front with a lot of interchangeable parts. Although Capers has the title of special assistant to the head coach, his real job is to make this Miami defense even more productive and unpredictable. He is a defensive guru with great experience in the 3-4 defense and will add some unusual blitzes and new looks out of the varied fronts to confuse opposing offenses.
So how good will the 2006 Dolphins be? In my opinion, they will win the AFC East if Culpepper is healthy. They do have the challenge of adjusting to two new coaches (Mularkey and Capers), they must survive depth issues at running back and linebacker, and a totally revamped secondary must jell quickly. However, when you look at this division, the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets have new coaches and a lot of personnel questions, while the Patriots did little in the offseason to improve.
Miami has a favorable schedule, with no tiring West Coast trips and has only one cold weather game (at Buffalo on Dec. 17). The Dolphins' other cold weather trips, to New England, N.Y. Jets and Chicago, all come before the bad weather hits the East.
With Saban in charge, there are no gray areas in this organization. Players know what is expected of them and they either live up to those expectations or they are gone. Saban preaches conditioning in the sweltering summer Miami heat and the Dolphins test for body fat, muscle mass, and they even conduct hydration tests with all of their players. As a result, this team will be in great physical shape in September and October and should get off to a quick start. The AFC East race likely will come down to the Pats and Dolphins and I predict both finish with 10-6 records. Miami will win the division because of tie-breakers, while New England will make the playoffs as a wild card. A lot of people think the Dolphins are still a year away from being a legitimate playoff contender. I think they are ready now. This will become a model organization that a lot of teams will try to copy.

I seriously cannot wait till the season is in full swing. If you guys believe that you will walk through this division again, you are in for a rude awakening. Seriously, I want to know how it is you believe this division is all yours. Seriously, enlighten me.

QB- Ill give you that. But we are much better than last year (New England)

RB- Please. Dillon is washed up. Brown averged 4.6 YPC last year. We are way better than you at RB (Miami)

WR- You're joking right? We have a pro bowler top 10 WR and your best guy is holding out (Miami)

TE- What? No way are Watson and Grahm better than McMike, not even combined. Especially not hands down. You are such a homer (Miami)

OL- You got that too but youre right, we are much improved (New England)

Front 7- Taylor and Thomas are both top 10 defensive players in the league, Carter and Holliday are both solid. Crowder is a soon to be superstar. You guys lost one of your big peices in McGinnest but you still got Bruschi and Seymore. (Miami)

DBs- We have a brand new secondary and a lot of depth. At the end of the year it could be great or just ok. It depends on how Will Poole comes back and how Will Allen and Jason Allen transistion. You were beat up in the secondary last year but for now I'll give it to you. (New England)

You are such a homer man. NO WAY, can you give the Pats TEs, RBs and a tie at WR. Running backs is the only one that might be even close but that's only because Ronnie is young. He is still way better than Dillon however.

Wow can you say KING HOMER...Pats have less depth at RB, QB and TE then Miami.

QB - Miami has the depth, Pats have the consistent star. Edge: Pats at this point.

RB - I would give Miami the slight edge at RB. Dillion was injured and is old. He wont last an entire season.

At TE...Miami has McMike which is better then any TE Pats have.

OL - Miami added LJ Shelton on the line, while the Pats lost a long time starter.

WR - Is really a no brainer. Chambers and Hagan is a star duo in the making. Pats are not even sure their #1 option will be on the field, and he still is no Chambers, plus Miami has Booker.

DL - Even to slight edge for Pats

LB - Are you kidding...Miami hands down

CB - Pats at this point. Although age is a concern.

Coaching: Easy Miami...Miami has a brain trust of experienced smart coaches. The New England brain trust is gone and BB has to do everything. Head coach may go to Pats at this point, but overall coaching is Miami.

Wow can you say KING HOMER...Pats have less depth at RB, QB and TE then Miami.

QB - Miami has the depth, Pats have the consistent star. Edge: Pats at this point.

RB - I would give Miami the slight edge at RB. Dillion was injured and is old. He wont last an entire season.

At TE...Miami has McMike which is better then any TE Pats have.

OL - Miami added LJ Shelton on the line, while the Pats lost a long time starter.

WR - Is really a no brainer. Chambers and Hagan is a star duo in the making. Pats are not even sure their #1 option will be on the field, and he still is no Chambers, plus Miami has Booker.

DL - Even to slight edge for Pats

LB - Are you kidding...Miami hands down

CB - Pats at this point. Although age is a concern.

Coaching: Easy Miami...Miami has a brain trust of experienced smart coaches. The New England brain trust is gone and BB has to do everything. Head coach may go to Pats at this point, but overall coaching is Miami.

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And he's the Homer?

Wow.

QB - Again, Brady trumps Culpepper by miles and Harrington by lightyears. It doesn't matter what kind of depth either team has behind their starters, because neither team will be in good shape.

RB - So Jason Allen is God while Laurence Maroney is nothing? Even if Dillon can't rebound from an injury-plagued 2005, you can't think Maroney doesn't count for anything. He's a first round pick who'd be starting for a lot of teams right now. The jury is still out on Brown, too. Don't go expecting some 2,000 yard season from him. The Pats have less depth? Give me a break! Travis Minor was a liability when he started. Same with Morris. Meanwhile, the Pats have Dillon and Maroney, Faulk and Pass, and Mills and Evans. That's depth.

WR - Does it matter if he's holding out? Seymour held out last year, but that didn't make any Dolphins player better than him. Branch edges out Chambers. Between Jackson, Brown, and Caldwell, the Patriots have sufficient production at the WR position, but their entire offense will supply the yards in the passing game, not just at WR. The Pats may be thin here, but it's certainly balanced out with their depth at TE and RB.

TE - To think McMichael is without a doubt better than either Graham or Watson is crazy. What is clear is the Pats have, and will, use many 2 TE sets. Add Thomas and Mills to the equation, and the Pats EASILY edge out the Dolphins, as all 4 will likely be used.

OL - Who's this "longtime starter" the Pats lost? Ashworth? He wasn't anything special in 2003, was injured in 2004, and was also injured off-and-on in 2005. The Pats now have Light back, who is the true "longtime starter." He has been one of the better OTs in the league since his arrival in 2001. Shelton only does so much to help the shaky unit that is the Dolphins OL, and is certainly not top-tier. The Pats will have Light, Kaczur, Mankins, Koppen, and Neal starting, which can be certainly one the best units in the league if healthy.

DL - "Slight" edge to the Pats? For starters, Seymour is one of the best, if the THE best, defensive linemen in the league. Kevin Carter is 33, Traylor is 37, Zgonia is 37, and Holliday is 31. I wouldn't want to depend on a unit that old. The Pats have yet-to-reach-their-peak players in Warren and Wilfork, both first-rounders. They have and will continue to improve.

LB - If you think Miami wins hands-down on this one, I can't believe you actually had the mental capacity to type. Bruschi, Vrabel, and Colvin are all borderline Pro-Bowl level players. The Dolphins match with Thomas and Taylor, and Crowder is promising, Hodge and Spragan are OK, but there's just not enough from either side to propel any team above the other.

DB - Two words: Rodney. Harrison. - when healthy, he'll trump Tillman, Allen, Cooper, Daniels, Allen, Goodman, Hill, and any other Miami DB by miles. Add-in 4 solid young players in Wilson, Samuel, Hobbs, and Gay, some extra veteran support in Warfield, C. Scott, Jones, and Hawkins, and finally some young projects in Sanders, G. Scott, Ventrone, and Andrews, and the Pats take the cake. The only team with the age issue here is the Dolphins.

Coaching - Until Saban has a fist full of Super Bowl rings, you're making a fool of yourself thinking the Dolphins have the edge in coaching. Pees, McDaniels, Pepper Johnson, and Belichick's right hand man, Ernie Adams, aren't any bums.

Congratulations! You just won the home statement of the year award! If you think that Branch is better than Chambers, you have some serious issues. Did Branch go to the pro bowl last year? No, he didn't don't even mention Branch in the same breath as Chris.

P.S, you're view is completely homerism pal. You compare the 4 tightends up against Randy and the truth is, not a single one of them can every carry McMike's jock.

QB - Again, Brady trumps Culpepper by miles and Harrington by lightyears. It doesn't matter what kind of depth either team has behind their starters, because neither team will be in good shape.

RB - So Jason Allen is God while Laurence Maroney is nothing? Even if Dillon can't rebound from an injury-plagued 2005, you can't think Maroney doesn't count for anything. He's a first round pick who'd be starting for a lot of teams right now. The jury is still out on Brown, too. Don't go expecting some 2,000 yard season from him. The Pats have less depth? Give me a break! Travis Minor was a liability when he started. Same with Morris. Meanwhile, the Pats have Dillon and Maroney, Faulk and Pass, and Mills and Evans. That's depth.

WR - Does it matter if he's holding out? Seymour held out last year, but that didn't make any Dolphins player better than him. Branch edges out Chambers. Between Jackson, Brown, and Caldwell, the Patriots have sufficient production at the WR position, but their entire offense will supply the yards in the passing game, not just at WR. The Pats may be thin here, but it's certainly balanced out with their depth at TE and RB.

TE - To think McMichael is without a doubt better than either Graham or Watson is crazy. What is clear is the Pats have, and will, use many 2 TE sets. Add Thomas and Mills to the equation, and the Pats EASILY edge out the Dolphins, as all 4 will likely be used.

OL - Who's this "longtime starter" the Pats lost? Ashworth? He wasn't anything special in 2003, was injured in 2004, and was also injured off-and-on in 2005. The Pats now have Light back, who is the true "longtime starter." He has been one of the better OTs in the league since his arrival in 2001. Shelton only does so much to help the shaky unit that is the Dolphins OL, and is certainly not top-tier. The Pats will have Light, Kaczur, Mankins, Kipping, and Neal starting, which can be certainly one the best units in the league if healthy.

DL - "Slight" edge to the Pats? For starters, Seymour is one of the best, if the THE best, defensive linemen in the league. Kevin Carter is 33, Traylor is 37, Zgonia is 37, and Holliday is 31. I wouldn't want to depend on a unit that old. The Pats have yet-to-reach-their-peak players in Warren and Wilfork, both first-rounders. They have and will continue to improve.

LB - If you think Miami wins hands-down on this one, I can't believe you actually had the mental capacity to type. Bruschi, Vrabel, and Colvin are all borderline Pro-Bowl level players. The Dolphins match with Thomas and Taylor, and Crowder is promising, Hodge and Spragan are OK, but there's just not enough from either side to propel any team above the other.

DB - Two words: Rodney. Harrison. - when healthy, he'll trump Tillman, Allen, Cooper, Daniels, Allen, Goodman, Hill, and any other Miami DB by miles. Add-in 4 solid young players in Wilson, Samuel, Hobbs, and Gay, some extra veteran support in Warfield, C. Scott, Jones, and Hawkins, and finally some young projects in Sanders, G. Scott, Ventrone, and Andrews, and the Pats take the cake. The only team with the age issue here is the Dolphins.

Coaching - Until Saban has a fist full of Super Bowl rings, you're making a fool of yourself thinking the Dolphins have the edge in coaching. Pees, McDaniels, Pepper Johnson, and Belichick's right hand man, Ernie Adams, aren't any bums.

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Obviously you know nothing about Talent...Brown is a PROVEN back, what has Maroney done...NOTHING!!!!!

You talk about the Dolphins age at DL, and then throw in Harrison in at DB...NEWFLASH!!!! DL is a strength position not speed. We dont need young DL in the 3-4, we just need strong linemen...What does a man lose first his speed or strength. Name a linemen in NE that had as many sacks as JT last year. EDGE clearly MIAMI.

Coaching - I loved watching BB call the offensive shots, while his "OC" sat there with a starbucks and a clip board. Fine BB has the edge on Saban right now but nothing on the NE staff has the knowledge of Mularky and Capers, plus the #1 OL in the league. Get a clue man. OVERALL coaching edge: Miami

OL - "Shelton only does so much to help the shaky unit that is the Dolphins OL"...Obviously you dont know much about the NFL...The Dolphins "shaky" unit gave up the FEWEST sacks last year (with a non mobile QB) and allowed 2 backs to average over 4 YPC. Dont let the NE hype fool you. Your lines best days are behind you.

QB - Trumps by light years huh. Which one of Bradys best years was better the Pep's best year? Just becuase his TEAM won a ring (a whole 100+ yards in the SB) does not mean he is a better QB, just had a better team. Pep has still put up great numbers over his career.

TE - I dont care if you have play 10 TE's. None of them are better then McMike.

Harrison is old and injury plagued. Lets see how he does before you claim he is better by miles.

So in your mind Pats have them at every position, but yet can only finish one game better. Yeah sure buddy, keep dreaming!

The division race will be over by midseason and we wont see you again until the next offseason predicting Miami dominance again while continuing to look like a complete fool, LMAO.

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Well I'm afraid you're wrong. It will take us till week 14 before we wrap up the division after we spank you at our place in South Florida. It will be the day when a Pats fan admits they got much worse and the Fins got a lot better this off-season. Can anyone do that?

Well I'm afraid you're wrong. It will take us till week 14 before we wrap up the division after we spank you at our place in South Florida. It will be the day when a Pats fan admits they got much worse and the Fins got a lot better this off-season. Can anyone do that?

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I am pretty sure BB chose the subtraction by addition approach this season. Lose the players who have produced for you in the past, and replace them with has beens and never was.

Obviously you know nothing about Talent...Brown is a PROVEN back, what has Maroney done...NOTHING!!!!

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I wouldn't want a RB who only ran for 900 yards in his only season my premier back with barely anything to fall back upon. Oh, what's that? Brown will run for more yards next year? How are you able to "PROVE" that? Maroney is in the same position, a 1st round pick, as Ronnie Brown as last year - Brown hadn't done ANYTHING yet either. But I'm sure you weren't sitting there thinking he wasn't as good as most other backs in the league.

You talk about the Dolphins age at DL, and then throw in Harrison in at DB...NEWFLASH!!!!

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And besides Harrison, who is that old in the Pats' secondary? Samuel is 25. Hobbs is 24. Gay is 24. Wilson is 26. Sanders is 23. All of those players with the exception of Sanders have had tons of playing time - and have performed for Super-Bowl caliber defenses - for players at their age. The veterans (Hawkins, Jones, Warfield, C. Scott - exception: Harrison) are moreso fallback plans.

DL is a strength position not speed. We dont need young DL in the 3-4, we just need strong linemen...What does a man lose first his speed or strength. Name a linemen in NE that had as many sacks as JT last year. EDGE clearly MIAMI.

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Since when does the 2-gap system bring tons of sacks for the line? It's Rosevelt Colvin and Mike Vrabel who do the sacking for this defense.

Older players carry more mileage, which makes them much more injury-prone. The Patriots have three young first-round picks who have all played up to their pick status and are only getting better. I also love how you totally forget to mention Richard Seymour, who happens to be a better player than "JT."

Coaching - I loved watching BB call the offensive shots, while his "OC" sat there with a starbucks and a clip board. Fine BB has the edge on Saban right now but nothing on the NE staff has the knowledge of Mularky and Capers, plus the #1 OL in the league. Get a clue man. OVERALL coaching edge: Miami

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Dom Capers! Mike Mularky! Man, those were certainly some succesful head coaches in their latest tenures! Damn! I can't see how Belichick could ever claim superiority over that murder's row!

OL - "Shelton only does so much to help the shaky unit that is the Dolphins OL"...Obviously you dont know much about the NFL...The Dolphins "shaky" unit gave up the FEWEST sacks last year (with a non mobile QB) and allowed 2 backs to average over 4 YPC. Dont let the NE hype fool you. Your lines best days are behind you.

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Are you kidding me? The Pats spent 2 first day draft picks on linemen last year, both of which stepped in as rookies and performed very well. They can only get better. As young players, their best days are AHEAD of them. The SAME goes for Matt Light and Dan Koppen, who were both draft picks in the last 5 years. Add in Steve Neal, an experienced Russ Hochstein, Gorin for depth, and two more draft picks, and again - their best days are AHEAD of them. Long gone are underperforming Adrian Klemm, Greg Robinson-Randall, and Kenyatta Jones. Aging vets Mike Compton, Damien Woody, and Joe Andruzzi have also been ridded.

QB - Trumps by light years huh. Which one of Bradys best years was better the Pep's best year? Just becuase his TEAM won a ring (a whole 100+ yards in the SB) does not mean he is a better QB, just had a better team. Pep has still put up great numbers over his career.

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Oh, I know. Culpepper had some real ****ty receiver to throw to up in Minnesota. Can't remember his name...thought it may have been Randy Moss, though. But certainly because he had that type of supporting cast means he is a bad QB. Ever see Culpepper's numbers when Moss left? Injury, you say? Doesn't that slight his chances to last the entire season, by your logic?

TE - I dont care if you have play 10 TE's. None of them are better then McMike.

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I can't believe how some fans of some teams are so obsessed with these 1-man shows. The truth is, with another year or two, natural progression and potential will place Ben Watson ahead of McMichael. But when we compare these two teams, it's the measure of the entire unit. Put together, the Patriots certainly beat out the Dolphins.

Harrison is old and injury plagued. Lets see how he does before you claim he is better by miles.

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Let's see what Culpepper does!

So in your mind Pats have them at every position, but yet can only finish one game better. Yeah sure buddy, keep dreaming!

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Ah, so it's this syllogistic logic crap that the Jets fans used to support their 2005 prognostications last summer.

I am pretty sure BB chose the subtraction by addition approach this season. Lose the players who have produced for you in the past, and replace them with has beens and never was.

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It's called constantly getting younger, quicker, faster, and stronger. It's no rocket science that older players like Vinatieri and McGinest are and will naturally decline.

It's also no rocket science that reaching and overpaying for players like Givens won't produce results.

I suggest who look back on how the Patriots have won and gotten where they are. This year has been no different. The pundits will always seem to shut up once the Pats start winning, and then claim the final prize and the last laugh come February.

As fans, we've seen all too many fans of opposing teams come in here, boast around, try their best to knock down the Patriots, but we have always gotten the last laugh. That's why we're all chuckling now. You may think your case is more solid than the one before, but believe me, we've seen it all.

Well I'm afraid you're wrong. It will take us till week 14 before we wrap up the division after we spank you at our place in South Florida. It will be the day when a Pats fan admits they got much worse and the Fins got a lot better this off-season. Can anyone do that?

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This is as entertaining as reading those Jets boards last summer. "Come December, we have two matchups! They'll be a battle for the AFC East!"

Of course, even as injury-riddled as the Pats were, they still shredded the Jets on both occasions. Going back to those boards, you then could see those fans, who boasted all of the previous summer about some of their players and coaches, proclaim they were unfit for the job and should be terminated. Again, couldn't help but to chuckle.

"Meet the Old Boss...Same as the New Boss..."

Of course, with each passing Pats' victory, these fans will steam up in their pants and hurl some more insults about how Tom Brady is supposedly a homosexual product of the system, how the Pats are old and washed up, and Belichick has either cheated or gotten lucky.

HAHA! Just enjoy it guys. Enjoy the glimmer of hope you seem to have now. Maybe you guys will realize it when we come up there to Foxboro and humilate you guys in your house. At that point the Dolphins will be either 4-1 or 5-0 and rolling on through the AFC.

HAHA! Just enjoy it guys. Enjoy the glimmer of hope you seem to have now. Maybe you guys will realize it when we come up there to Foxboro and humilate you guys in your house. At that point the Dolphins will be either 4-1 or 5-0 and rolling on through the AFC.

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lol...For people who just started watching the Pats some where around '02 they sure are homers. So we added a bunch of aging noodle armed vets. I really wish Pep would pick up some arm strength. Which 30+ player did we pick up?

Caldwell - bench warmer, has not proved jack.
Maroney - has not even touched the field.
Jackson - Has not even touched the field.
Brown - Has not broke the 500 yard mark since '02.
Gramatica - not even in the league last year.

HEY PATS!!!! With your probowl kicker, proven WR, proven linmen. US with our lack of depth on the line, no secondary, and no QB only finished one game back. Keep dreaming people.

Like 'em or hate 'em, there's no doubt the Phins are making good strides to improve their team. There's no doubt that they have some good talent at scattered positions. But the cold hard fact is...they ain't there yet aqua boys. The Pats not only have the edge in talent, they also have the experience.

If the Phins continue on this path over the next couple of years, I'm sure Saban will have them competing in a bowl game. There's no denying this and I'm not that much of a hater to admit it.

But don't hate what's proven. Get off Brady cause there is no better in the league and between our coach and team-wide superstars, even if you fish make the playoffs cause of your light schedule, you can be sure that you won't get past us this year!

lol...For people who just started watching the Pats some where around '02 they sure are homers. So we added a bunch of aging noodle armed vets. I really wish Pep would pick up some arm strength. Which 30+ player did we pick up?

Caldwell - bench warmer, has not proved jack.
Maroney - has not even touched the field.
Jackson - Has not even touched the field.
Brown - Has not broke the 500 yard mark since '02.
Gramatica - not even in the league last year.

HEY PATS!!!! With your probowl kicker, proven WR, proven linmen. US with our lack of depth on the line, no secondary, and no QB only finished one game back. Keep dreaming people.

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Why are McMichael and Chambers in that equation? Mare? Booker? Brown?

Well then, I might just as well add in Brady, Seymour, Branch, Colvin, Bruschi, Harrison, Vrabel, etc., etc., etc.

(And why am I even responding to someone who just used "Harrington" and "Proven Starter" in the same sentence?)